Nic Jones (born Nicolas Paul Jones; 9 January 1947) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Regarded as a prominent figure of the British folk revival, he has recorded five solo albums and collaborated with various musicians.
Nic Jones was born in Orpington, London, England, where his father owned a newsagent's shop. The family moved to Brentwood in Essex when he was two, and he later attended Brentwood School. He first learned to play guitar as a young teenager and early musical influences included such artists as The Shadows, Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins, Wes Montgomery and Ray Charles. His interest in folk music was aroused by an old school friend, Nigel Paterson who was a member of a folk band called The Halliard.
During his career, Jones was much in demand as a session musician and he guested on albums by leading UK artists such as June Tabor, Shirley Collins, Barbara Dickson, Richard Thompson and many others. Jones joined fellow folk singers Jon Raven and Tony Rose for the 1973 trio album Songs of a Changing World. Also alongside Tony Rose, as well as Pete Coe and Chris Coe, Jones was a member of short-lived folk group, Bandoggs; one eponymously titled album was released in 1978.
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| Mike Raven & Nic Jones |
On 5 August 2010, after an absence of 28 years, Jones made a return to the stage. He appeared at an event dedicated to his music at Sidmouth Folk Week. Jones sang three songs with one of his former bands Bandoggs, and commented that he would "consider performing again – but wanted to sing his own songs." In 2012, Jones (with musicians Joseph Jones – Nic's son – and Belinda O'Hooley) performed his first solo concerts for 30 years at the Warwick, Cambridge, Wadebridge and Towersey folk festivals.] On 22 September 2012, Jones was presented with The Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance & Song Society, at a special concert at Cecil Sharp House, London. It is the highest honour the E.F.D.S.S. can confer on a musician.
On 30 January 2013, Jones was named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. On 23 August 2013, the Nic Jones Trio (comprising him, Joseph Jones and Belinda O'Hooley) performed on the opening night of that year's Shrewsbury Folk Festival, in the course of which it was announced from the stage that it was to be their final performance although he did a tour with Joe Jones in October 2014.
Jones now lives in West Devon and continues his long love affair with chess and the only physical sports he can manage these days, snooker and a unique style of swimming! He still does daily battle with his guitar and writes the occasional song. His wife Julia set up the record label Mollie Music which has issued albums of re-mastered live recordings from Jones's early career.
(Edited from Wikipedia)